Outline

　The Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University plays an important role in the transmission and development of science and technology in Japan, and is one of Kagoshima University’s core graduate schools. It provides a Master’s program that gives university graduates the opportunity to take their studies to a higher, more specialized level, and a PhD program that undertakes cutting-edge, interdisciplinary, integrated research and education, thereby helping to generate innovation. Through the intensification and fusion of engineering and the sciences, the Graduate School of Science and Engineering aims to cultivate talented individuals who are capable of playing an active role on the global stage and of providing the foundations for Japan’s continued competitiveness.

　The Graduate School of Science and Engineering is engaged in the cultivation of practically-minded human talent that possesses both solid basic academic abilities in relation to the natural sciences and technology, and the ability to apply these capabilities effectively across a wide range of fields, as well as a thorough understanding of the vital importance of scientific creativity, and a long-term, wide-ranging perspective supporting a proactive attitude.

Educational Objective

　The philosophy of the Graduate School of Science and Engineering is to develop truth-loving, highly ethical, self-motivated individuals who can meet challenges and contribute to the development of the regional and international community through the creation of an education and research system and framework that responds to the demands of the times. In order to live up to this philosophy, we have set ourselves the objective of developing capable people who study and teach the most recent academic theories and findings in the fields of science and engineering. From foundational to practical application, we delve deeply into scientific inquiry and contribute to the development of human civilization. In order to achieve this objective, one further objective is necessary: To cultivate engineers, researchers, and highly specialized, next-generation professionals who possess the sound ethical judgment necessary to confront contemporary issues, who have comprehensive knowledge about the environment, and who can respond extensively and flexibly to the advancement and diversification of natural science.

Research Objective

　Based on our educational philosophy, our objective is to engage ourselves in research whose outcome helps us respond widely and flexibly to the advancement and diversification in the science and engineering fields, ushers in next-generation technology, provides us with advanced and comprehensive knowledge about the nature around us, and nurtures moral standards in students’minds so that they can cope effectively with contemporary issues.

　As an educational institution, we train engineers who possess an international point of view and can create new technology that supports a wide range of natural science. Thus, we have the responsibility to conduct research and education in ways that will instill broader outlooks and problem-solving capabilities in students and to engage ourselves in the kinds of research activities that contribute to the development of technology. The following are descriptions of research activities the Graduate School of Science and Engineering puts into practice in accordance with our educational objectives.

Admission Policy

○Master’s Courses

　1.Desired qualities

• commit themselves to our mission; have underlying academic skills; are strongly motivated; are capable of rational thinking ; and have good communication skills;
• are keenly interested in the unresolved issues of science and engineering; are inquisitive; and spare no effort in finding solutions to problems;
• hone their skills in making research plans and in producing logical analyses in scientific and multilateral methods to analyze different phenomena in the discipline;
• make the best use of what they learn and respect different values and cultures of the world to make both the local and global communities better;

 

　2. Capabilities desired in students

　The required capabilities are knowledge/ability worthy of a bachelor’s degree holder, knowledge/skills in the specialized field of the preferred department and ability in foreign languages (English). However, students applying for the Special Admissions in Other Fields are required to have the knowledge/ability worthy of a bachelor’s degree holder, knowledge/skills in their field of specialization and foreign language ability (English).

 

　3. Basic Principle of Candidate Screening

　The General Selection (oral examination) tests applicants’ knowledge/ability related to the specialized field of the master’s degree program of the preferred department and aptitude/motivation through an interview including an oral examination. These abilities are necessary to achieve the status of the sort of human resource outlined in the Educational Goals. Also to be taken into account is the grade achieved at the school the applicant has graduated from and the Statement of Reasons for Applying.

　The General Selection (written examination) evaluates applicants’ knowledge/ability related to the specialized field of the master’s degree program of the preferred department, reading comprehension of a foreign language (English) and aptitude/motivation through the examination on the specialized subject (questions from the specialized field of the master’s degree program of the preferred department, i.e., either the Department of Science or the Department of Engineering), on the foreign language (English) and an interview. These abilities are necessary to achieve the status of the sort of human resource outlined in the Educational Goals. Also to be taken into account is the grade at the school the applicant has graduated from.

　The Special Admissions in Other Fields appraises applicants’ ability, aptitude and motivation all of which are necessary to achieve the status of the sort of human resource outlined in the Educational Goals. The appraisal is conducted through an interview, including an oral examination. Also to be taken into account is the grade achieved at the school the applicant has graduated from and the Statement of Reasons for Applying.

　The Special Selection for Those in Employment assesses applicants’ knowledge/ability related to the specialized field of the master’s degree program of the preferred department and aptitude/motivation both of which are necessary to achieve the status of the sort of human resource outlined in the Educational Goals through an oral examination. Also to be taken into account is the grade achieved at the school the applicant has graduated from and the Performance (Operation) Report.

　The International Students Special Admissions tests applicants knowledge/ability related to the specialized field of the master’s degree program of the preferred department, reading comprehension of a foreign language (either Japanese or English) and aptitude/motivation through the examination on the specialized subject (questions from the specialized field of the master’s degree program of the preferred department, i.e., either the Department of Science or the Department of Engineering), on the foreign language (either Japanese or English) and an interview. These abilities are necessary to achieve the status of the sort of human resource outlined in the Educational Goals. Also to be taken into account is the grade achieved at the school the applicant has graduated from.

　The English Course Special Admissions is used to evaluate applicants’ English proficiency, knowledge/ability in the specialized field of the master’s degree program of the preferred department, and aptitude/motivation through the examination on foreign languages (English) and either an interview which includes an oral examination or the examination on the specialized subject (questions from the specialized field of the preferred master’s degree program) and an interview. These abilities are necessary to achieve the status of the sort of human resource outlined in the Educational Goals. Also to be taken into account is the grade at the school the applicant has graduated from.

 

○Doctoral Course

　1. Qualities

　The candidate

• 　A) shares the principle of the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, has the basic ability and motivation to realize it, thinks logically and rationally, and has good communicative skills.
• 　B) is deeply interested in different issues in science and engineering, sparing no effort in grappling with a variety of problems who has a strong inquiring spirit.
• 　C) is willing to sharpen their skills, formulating scientific and multi-dimensional execution plans and analyzing their results logically in order to clarify different phenomena in science and engineering.
• 　D) appreciates the different values and cultures of the world, has high ethical standards and is keen to use the expertise acquired at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering to make contributions to local and global communities.
• 　E) is willing to become a scholar or highly qualified professional in science or engineering and is eager to take on the responsibilities of leadership.

 

　2. Prerequisite Knowledge

　The successful candidate will have advanced expert knowledge/skills in science and engineering, and advanced knowledge/fluency in a foreign language [English].

 

　Selection Process [General Selection]

　The selection criteria include the results of an oral examination, school records, master’s thesis and research proposal, and advanced knowledge/skills and aptitude/motivation in the specialization. These skills are necessary for the candidate to become the kind of researcher who can meet the Educational Goal.